It's looking like there won't be a Pixel 4a XL this year, with multiple reports claiming that Google prototyped such a device but ultimately canceled it. Thanks to some new leaks, we're now getting to see what that device would've looked like if it had launched to the public.
First up, some new renders have put together that may show the front, back, and sides of the Pixel 4a XL. These renders, shared by xleaks7 and Pigtou, are based on a leaked prototype and show a device that looks like the regular Pixel 4a but with one big change.
We can see in this Pixel 4a XL's square camera bump that there are two cameras, while the regular Pixel 4a just has a single rear cam. It's not known exactly what specs Google had planned for these cameras, but the Pixel 4 and 4 XL have regular and telephoto cameras and so it's possible that the Pixel 4a XL would've had a similar dual rear camera array.
The renders also show a rear fingerprint reader and a display with a hole-punch in the upper left corner of the display, just like the regular Pixel 4a. There's a USB-C port on the bottom of the Pixel 4a XL and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top.
In other Pixel 4a XL news, photos of a rear battery cover for the canceled device have surfaced. 9to5Google has shared images that show a battery cover that likely belonged to a prototype that Google made a small amount of for testing. This particular rear battery cover was manufactured in September 2019.
This battery cover lines up with the Pixel 4a XL renders that also leaked today. There are two rear camera cutouts in the camera bump plus a cutout for a rear fingerprint reader. Also included are cutouts for a 3.5mm jack up top plus USB-C and speaker grilles on the bottom.
Also of note is a logo on the back that's definitely not the same "G" that we've seen on the back of launched Pixel phones. This is likely a special marking used for Google to identify prototype units.
While the Pixel 4a hasn't yet been announced, all of the leaks and reports we've gotten so far suggest that Google will launch just the Pixel 4a this year and not make a follow-up to last year's Pixel 3a XL. It's possible that Google wants to simplify it's more affordable Pixel lineup, making things easier for itself and for consumers and giving it a single device to pit against the iPhone SE.